US2005216130A1PendingUtilityA1

Water irrigation system with wireless communication and method of controlling irrigation

48
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 26, 2004Filed: Mar 26, 2004Published: Sep 29, 2005
Est. expiryMar 26, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James J. Clark, IiiMichael PerkinsDavid Small
A01G 25/16
48
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The computer system may include an infrared receiver. An operator may use a portable device with an infrared transmitter to provide a signal to the infrared receiver of the computer system. The signal may include instructions for the water irrigation system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared signal from the portable device. A method of controlling irrigation may include allowing an infrared receiver of a computer system to receive infrared output from a portable device and controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared output. The method may include controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared output received from the portable device.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A water irrigation system, comprising: 
 a computer system comprising an infrared receiver, wherein the infrared receiver is configured to receive infrared output from a device comprising an infrared transmitter, wherein the device is configured to allow a user to provide instructions to the water irrigation system; and    wherein the computer system is configured to control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared output from the device.    
   
   
       2 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is an infrared transceiver.  
   
   
       3 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a hand-held device.  
   
   
       4 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a laptop computer.  
   
   
       5 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       6 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a cellular phone.  
   
   
       7 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a regional identifier.  
   
   
       8 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a postal code.  
   
   
       9 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a day of the week.  
   
   
       10 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a time of day.  
   
   
       11 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a year.  
   
   
       12 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a month.  
   
   
       13 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a day of a month.  
   
   
       14 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a date.  
   
   
       15 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a soil type.  
   
   
       16 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a type of vegetation.  
   
   
       17 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise a stress factor.  
   
   
       18 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to initiate irrigation.  
   
   
       19 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to terminate irrigation.  
   
   
       20 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to inhibit irrigation at least partially based on the infrared output from the device.  
   
   
       21 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensing unit, wherein the sensing unit comprises a solar panel configured to receive sunlight and to produce electricity from the received sunlight, and wherein the solar panel is configured to supply at least a portion of the electricity to the sensing unit.  
   
   
       22 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to control irrigation at least partially based on community irrigation instructions.  
   
   
       23 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensing unit, wherein the sensing unit comprises a transmitter configured to provide output from the sensing unit to the computer system.  
   
   
       24 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more valves that are operated by the computer system.  
   
   
       25 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more valves that are operated by the computer system, wherein at least one of the valves is coupled to one or more conduits, and wherein at least a portion of each conduit is configured to carry water.  
   
   
       26 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more valves that are operated by the computer system, wherein at least one of the valves is coupled to one or more conduits, and wherein at least a portion of each conduit is configured to carry water, and one or more irrigation devices, wherein at least one of the irrigation devices is coupled to at least one of the conduits.  
   
   
       27 . The water irrigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more valves that are operated by the computer system, wherein at least one of the valves is coupled to one or more conduits, wherein at least a portion of each conduit is configured to carry water, and a source of water that is coupled to at least one of the conduits.  
   
   
       28 . A method of controlling irrigation, comprising: 
 providing infrared output from a device comprising an infrared transmitter;    allowing an infrared receiver of a computer system of a water irrigation system to receive the infrared output; and    controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared output received from the device.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein controlling irrigation comprises initiating irrigation by the water irrigation system.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein controlling irrigation comprises terminating irrigation by the water irrigation system.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising assessing solar insolation near or in the zone to be irrigated, and controlling irrigation at least partially based on the assessed solar insolation.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising assessing solar insolation near or in the zone to be irrigated, and assessing zonal evapotranspiration at least partially based on the assessed solar insolation.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising controlling irrigation based at least partially on community irrigation instructions.

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